Nairobi Woman Representative aspirant Esther Passaris delivers a motivational talk to Women Students Welfare Association (Woswa) at the UoN Women Hall. Photo/@EstherPassaris/Twitter]
Nairobi Woman Representative aspirant Esther Passaris says she was kidnapped, Friday.
She said goons attacked and roughed up her bodyguards at the University of Nairobi (UoN), as she tried to enter the school, to deliver a motivational talk to Women Students Welfare Association (Woswa) at the UoN Women Hall.
Below is Passaris' narration of the ordeal, through Twitter:
''How I was held for ransom yesterday (Friday) #PoliticalViolence #WomenNeedSecurity A thread:
When I got there, about 30 goons were waiting for me. They blocked my entry, roughed up my bodyguards.
They were led by a former student, who is also an aspirant for MCA, who was demanding that I fork out 150,000kshs.
I refused to pay them to enter. They got rougher and rougher, hurling insults, threatening violence.
My bodyguards managed to get me into the hall, with the help of male UoN students.
I got the chance to talk to the students, and it was still a lovely time but trouble started again when I had to leave.
The same gang was now INSIDE the school and demanding money to let us out.
They attacked us, broke the door handles of my car, side mirrors and threatened to burn the car.
They roughed me up, and my bodyguards. They grabbed my handbag and found nothing.
Now they got incensed. They stoned the car, blocked our passage with rocks, shouting abuses at me.
By this time we had called the police and by the grace of God we got away and sought refuge at Kileleshwa Police Station.
Though the MCA Aspirant was arrested later, the threat of violence still remains a central part of these elections.
But the dangers that women aspirants face even within institutions is far from acceptable. Something must be done.
I ask the National Police Service, and the IEBC that even as they prepare for the elections, they must take measures.
I ask that IEBC take action against aspirants who resort to violence against other contenders. Protect women!''
Passaris emerged the winner in ODM primaries, after garnering 65,104 votes to vie against incumbent Rachael Shebesh.